HarryVanWinkle
Posts: 1720
Joined: 5/8/2006
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In June of 1977, I was hospitalized for several days with an acute case of hepatitis. At the time, it was diagnosed as type B and I was told that I could never again donate blood nor be an organ donor. Seven or eight years ago, when I got on an HMO medical plan, I was told that I have Hepatitis Type C.
In my ignorance, I thought, “Isn’t that sweet. I’ll be dead in five years or so.” Needless to say, this soured my already somewhat sour view on life and helped to re-enforce my strong relationship with my old pal, Jack Daniels. (Although, I’ll confess to having frequently cheated on him with Johnny Walker, Mary Jane and a host of others, but Jack never minded.)
Three years ago, I got mortally tired of living in a bottle and hiding behind a computer. I got out and joined the only real life community I’ve ever felt I could truly belong to, the BDSM community, in the form of Desert Dominion. Eventually, this helped lead to the end of my relationship with Jack, Johnny and the rest.
From the beginning of my involvement in DD, I made no secret of the fact that I have Hepatitis C. I believe that everybody with whom I have played has been aware of it. And, I have assumed that all potential playmates have also known it.
We all know what the drill sergeants say about the word, ASSUME.
It has been brought to my attention (with a proverbial baseball bat) that I have not been as attentive about informing any potential new playmates of my infection as I should be. This letter is my first step in rectifying that inattentiveness.
As many of you know, a few months ago, I was hospitalized for a mild case of pancreatitis, caused by gallstones. During that adventure, I learned that I have never had Hepatitis B, but have had type C for over thirty years. Awhile before that, I had a liver biopsy, learned that I have Stage 2 (out of 4 stages) cirrhosis, and that my liver, despite a ten year, intense relationship with Jack and friends, plus the decades with Hepatitis C, is still functioning quite well and could very well last for another thirty years. It wasn’t the automatic death sentence that I thought it was.
In this, however, I have been fortunate. Hepatitis C is a nasty disease and treats many of its victims a lot worse than it has me.
Since joining this community, I have sought to be of service to it as much as I can. It has occurred to me that one very good way for me, in particular, to be of service, is by making absolutely sure that everybody in it knows of my condition, by learning as much as I can about this disease and by striving to educate the community about it.
While I already know a lot about this disease, probably more than most people, I am nowhere near being an expert on the subject. Yet. In the coming months, I intend to work on that.
But, here are just a couple of the things I do know already. One is that Hepatitis C is a blood borne disease; the surest way to get it is by contact with the blood of a carrier such as myself. As many of you know, I’m very fond of blood sports, involving my own blood. (I have lots of pictures to prove it.) Fortunately, those with whom I have played these games have been both aware of my condition and very well educated in safety procedures. In fact, they have served and continue to serve the community themselves by providing education on the subject.
Two is that, as I stated above, while I have had Hepatitis C for over thirty years, I’ve only known that I have it for seven or eight years. Other than during the initial, acute stage, over three decades ago, I have had no symptoms. And not everybody who catches it has an initial acute stage. In other words, there are many people who have this disease and do not know it, very possibly some within our community. There are also some people who know they have it and attempt to conceal the fact, for fear of ostracism.
My point is that, when engaging in forms of play which could lead to transmission of this or any other blood borne disease, you should, for your safety, ALWAYS ASSUME (which will not make an ASS out of U or ME) that the person with whom you are playing has Hepatitis C and/or AIDS and/or a host of other possible infections and ALWAYS exercise appropriate safety procedures.
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Hepatitis C - 
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